This brilliantly entertaining and high energy show grabs its young audience and never lets go. Whether deconstructing the Christmas cracker or explaining exactly what happens after you’ve eaten a Brussel sprout the effervescent and spectacularly smiley Maddie Moate (making her West End debut) shows why this former drama student has become one of our most loved presenters of children’s television, for which she bagged a Children’s BAFTA nearly 10 years ago.
In Maddie Moate’s Very Curious Christmas, Maddie and her two elf assistants – Tinker (Kira MacCarter, twinkling nicely on her own West End debut) and Goggles (Zain Abrahams, reliably excellent) – have to help Mrs Christmas (Jennie Dale … on screen) to get Santa’s workshop straight and everything back on track for the big day.
Maddie’s “thing” is Science. And, as the cast sing in the ridiculously catchy ‘Science Song!’, science is all about “Questions, answers, doubts and queries. New ideas, testing theories …”. And if that sounds a bit arcane for tots, don’t worry, it isn’t. Absolutely not. In a world of fake news and fake imagery, public engagement with science and the importance of making sense with evidence is critical. And in the capable hands of Maddie Moate that engagement starts with the very young – my six and three year old co-reviewers loved every minute – with magical smoke rings, funny effects, rain and even snowballs, this wonderful show is so much fun and the hour zips by.
Maddie Moate’s Very Curious Christmas is pretty much guaranteed to put a smile on the face of even the most jaded parent.
And children? Children will love it!
Review by Louis Mazzini
Maddie, best known from CBeebies and YouTube, is on work experience in this winter wonderland, and she’s got her hands full with two hilarious elves: Tinker, the trainee toymaker, and Goggles, the Head of Elf Safety.
But with a busy Christmas season, the workshop is a whirlwind of mishaps! To top it all off, Mrs Claus is on her way for a surprise inspection, and she expects nothing less than perfection!
With the clock ticking, Maddie and her young audience must use science, curiosity, and a sprinkle of Christmas magic to help Tinker and Goggles fix the workshop in time for Mrs Claus’ big visit.
Packed with festive fun, hands-on experiments, and plenty of giggles this family-friendly show is the perfect Christmas treat for kids and grown-ups as they work together to save the holiday season!
MADDIE MOATE’S VERY CURIOUS CHRISTMAS
Garrick Theatre
12 December 2025 to 4 January 2026
A wonderful event and a show truly worth attending.
1. The atmosphere of the venue and the theatre itself is fantastic — warm, immersive, and beautifully set up, instantly creating the right mood for both children and adults.
2. The performers are incredibly engaged and energetic. They managed to hold the full attention of our very active 6.5-year-old for the entire hour — which is no small feat. This alone deserves real admiration and respect.
3. It was genuinely fun for adults as well. The programme is diverse, creates a great festive mood, and educates in a light, accessible way through real experiments. The boundary between the stage and the audience completely disappeared.
Our son was truly interested, and most importantly, the experience was highly interactive — which is very important to me personally.
Thank you for such a memorable experience.